Q&A with AIA New Orleans President and GOAT Co-Founder Peter Spera
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the prominent professional organization for architects with more than 94,000 members, including members of the GOAT team.
GOAT’s very own Principal and Co-Founder Peter Spera III is the current President of AIA New Orleans. Peter was the Treasurer of AIA New Orleans in 2019 and 2020 and then transitioned to the role of Vice President in 2021.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) was formed in 1857, and AIA New Orleans was founded in 1909 as its thirteenth chapter overall and only the second chapter in the South. AIA New Orleans promotes excellence in the practice of architecture, with a particular focus on sustainability and equity, and to ensure that all in the community value architecture as essential to the quality of life in New Orleans. AIA New Orleans seeks to achieve its mission through the following three pillars of activity: Service, Advocacy, and Partnership
GOAT’s Business Development Associate sat with Peter to learn more about AIA New Orleans and his role as President:
What sparked your interest in architecture?
When I was young, I spent afternoons at my grandmother’s house. She didn’t have cable, so TV watching was limited to PBS. There was a show every afternoon called 3-2-1 Contact. One week there was a special Architecture week where every show was about Architecture; building tours, design concepts, interviews with architects, etc. Around the same time, I went to Chicago on vacation, I spent the entire week in awe of Chicago’s architecture. Between those two events in my life I was hooked, I never wanted to do anything else.
When did you first get involved with AIA New Orleans?
When I started working in New Orleans in 2004, I would occasionally go to events like the design awards and yearly meeting, but I started to become more involved in 2017 with Emerging Professionals events and the futureNOLA exhibition.
Describe your role as AIA President.
At a high level, it’s being involved in everything that happens related to AIA New Orleans. I’m present for all committee meetings and run the monthly board meetings. On a finer level, I get to observe how AIA New Orleans operates and lend advice and guidance to make the organization better.
What do you hope to accomplish in this role?
My goals for this year are:
1. Ensure that we offer a robust schedule of events, both social and educational, that will facilitate connections and friendships among our members.
2. Work with our Executive Director and Board to implement the new strategic plan that was adopted at the end of 2022. Establishing goals this year will guide AIA New Orleans for the next five years.
What are you most excited about during your term?
Our Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) committee has quickly established a mentorship program that is providing Tulane and LSU Architecture students with mentorship from architects as well as training in a variety of topics related to obtaining and retaining employment. I’m very proud of the work that co-chairs Mike Ballard and Lexi Tengco have already accomplished, and I think that what they created has the potential to spread to other AIA components in the state and country.
What is something people might not know about AIA?
I think that people might not know is that there are three levels of AIA: National, State and Local. All three are all advocating for our profession in different ways.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
AIA New Orleans is hosting its inaugural Brew & ‘Cue cook-off and Cornhole tournament on Saturday, June 17 at Faubourg Brewing Company. Tickets are available here.
More information about AIA New Orleans and the full executive board can be found here.